Combined key case and flashlight



Siepfzt. & W49 M. A. CORIGLIANO 2,481,295

COMBINED KEY CASE AND FLASHLIGHT Filed Oct. 31, 1946 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 6, 1949 UNITED STATES rem; OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a combined key case and flashlight.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a combination key case and flashlight in which the keys will automatically flow out of the case when the cover is opened.

It is another object of the invention to provide a flashlight for use with a key case which can be used independently while the keys are still within the case or wherein the keys as they are extracted from the case will automatically turn on the flashlight,

It is another object or the invention to provide a combined key case and flashlight which is of simple construction, efl'icient in use, and of little expense to manufacture.

According to. the invention, the case has an opening in one. end with a cover or door pivotable fromv one edge to extend over the opening to confine the. keys therewithin. At one side of the case is a compartment for storing a small battery and a flash light bulb and socket. Externally of the case there is a button for turning on the light. The keys are mounted on a slide and contained in a key compartment and as the door is opened the slide will automatically slide out of the compartment. Automatic means adapted to be engaged by the key side serves to turn on the light Switch.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims inwhlch the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig, 1 is a perspective view of the combined key case and flashlight embodying the features of the present invention, the key door being closed and the case extending upright.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the key case with the door open and the key extended.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view, taken along thev 1 33 of Fig, 1, looking in the direction of the arrows thereof.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse cross sectional view, taken along the line t-l of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows thereof.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view with portions broken away to show the light compartment and with the switch moved to the on position.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the slides removed from the key compartment.

Fig. '1 is an enlarged perspective view of the ring and related elements per se.

Referring now to the figures, I0= represents a key case having a key compartment II and a flashlight compartment I2. An opening is provided at one end of the case and at the end of the compartments through which keys I3 or lamp bulb It can be extracted orwithdrawn. This opening is closed by a door I5 hinged to one side of'the case, as indicated at i6; and having a detent or spring I? adapted to cooperate with the inner wall of the case it within the compartment I2. This detent is not too strong to prevent the door from being opened at times by a shake of the Keys and their weight being forced upon the door.

The case In has. a bottom 20 closing the compartment I I', and the compartment I2 has a threaded opening 2I at the bottom. A threaded plug 22 is mounted in the opening 21 to retain a battery 23 in the compartment I2 in a position abutting a socket terminal 24 of the lamp bulb HI, A terminal strip 25 is placed into the compartment I2 ahead of the plug. This strip 25 is angled and a round projectionZii on the inner end of the plug 22 urges the strip against the battery end. The other terminal of the bulb socket takes the form ora plate 2'I. A switch slide 28 is carried within the compartment I2 and a button 29 extends through an elongated opening 3| on the edge of the case. One end of the slide stays in engagementwith the strip 25, and to illuminate the lamp bulb M the other e'rid of the slide 28 is moved into contact with plate 21.

Extending from the compartment I2 and connected with the switch slide 28 is a ring 32 in cluding a U-shaped yoke having legs 33 extending across key slots 34 in which rides the key slide 35. The slots 34 are in opposite sides of the compartment II and are of T-shape in crosssection to receive heads 36 of the slide 35. The heads may be inserted into. the slots 34 through the end holes 34'. An S-shaped hook 31 is connected to the slide and a ring 38 on the key I3 connects the key with the other end of the S- shapedhook 31. A projection I5 on the door It will engage the portion 33 and return the switch, slide 28 to its off position.

The U-shaped yoke has its intermediate cross piece 33 adjacent a slot 33 between the compartments, and the cross-piece 33 and the ring 32 are connected by an integral bar 33 which extends through the slot 33'.

When it is desired to use the key, the key abuts the door I5 to open the same and slides out of the compartment I I. The slide 35 will engage the.

projections 33 to cause the switch slide 28 to turn on the lamp bulb I4. The door [5 has an opening 39 which surrounds and supports the outer extremity of the bulb l4 in the closed position of the door l5, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changesand modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A combined flashlight and key case comprising a casing having two parallel compartments open at one end, and a hinged door closing said end, said compartments having a common wall provided with a slot therein, flashlight elements in one of said compartments including a light bulb, a battery and circuit means connecting said bulb and battery including a slide switch having an operating button disposed exteriorly of said one compartment for manually lighting said bulb, said other compartment having opposed dove-tail guides in its side walls, a cross-bar having heads slidably disposed in said guides, a key connected to said cross-bar and adapted to be inserted in and ejected from said other compartment, movement of said key being accompanied by movement of said cross-bar, said door having a springy detent depending from its inner side and engaging the inner face of said one compartment for normally holding said door shut, the holding force of said detent being such as to permit it to be overcome by shaking of said key in other compartment to exert a force against said door emanating from blows by said key against said door, and means for eifecting automatic lighting of said bulb upon ejection of said key including a ring surrounding said battery and secured to said switch for moving same, a U-shaped yoke having its legs extending to said guides, the cross-piece of said yoke being adjacent said slot, and a bar connecting said cross-piece and ring whereby outward movement of said cross-bar due to ejection of said key will cause the abutment of said crossbar and yoke and movement of said yoke to move said switch to light said bulb automatically, said cover having ahole inline with said bulb for supporting the outer end of the bulb in the closed position of the cover.

2. A combined flashlight and key case comprising a casing having two parallel compartments open at one end, and a hinged door closing said end, said compartments having a common wall provided with a slot therein, flashlight elements in one of said compartments including a light bulb, a battery and circuit means connecting said bulb and battery including a slide switch having an operating button disposed exteriorly of said one compartment for manually lighting said bulb, said other compartment having opposed dove-tail guides in its side walls, a cross-bar having heads slidably disposed in said guides, a key connected to said cross-bar and adapted to be inserted in and ejected from said other compartment, movement of said key being accompanied by movement of said cross-bar, said door having a springy detent depending from its inner side and engaging the inner face of said one compartment for normally holding said door shut, the holding force of said detent being such as to permit it to be overcome by shaking of said key in other compartment to exert a force against said door emanating from blows by said key against said door, and means for efiecting automatic lighting of said bulb upon ejection of said key including a ring surrounding said battery and secured to said switch for moving same, a U-shaped yoke having its legs extending to said. guides, the cross-piece of said yoke being adjacent said slot, and a bar connecting said crosspiece and ring whereby outward movement of said cross-bar due to ejection of said key will cause the abutment of said cross-bar and yoke and movement of said yoke to move said switch to light said bulb autmatically, said cover having a hole in line with said bulb for supporting the outer end of the bulb in the closed position of the cover, and an inwardly extending projection on said cover adapted to extend into said other compartment along said common wall to engage said yoke to move said switch to oil position upon closing of said cover.

3. In a combined flashlight and key case, a casing having parallel compartments one for a key and the other for flashlight elements and open at one end, said compartments being separated by a transverse wall formed with a slot, flashlight elements in said other compartment and including a bulb, a battery and a slide switch having an operating button disposed exteriorly of said other compartment for manually moving said slide switch to illuminate said bulb, a hingedly mounted door closing the open end of said casing, a projection on the inner face of said door and extending into said one compartment, a ring mounted on said slide switch and surrounding said battery, a slidable yoke in said one compartment, and. a bar integrally formed with said yoke and ring and extended through said slot to cause said yoke to be moved to a position in the path traversed by said projection when the door is closed when said switch operating button is moved to move said slide switch to illuminate said bulb, whereby when said bulb is lit with said door open the act of closing said door will cause said projection to engage said yoke and move the yoke and in turn said ring and said slide switch to turn off said bulb.

MARCO A. CORIGLIANO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,834,805 Rodd is Dec. 1, 1931 1,972,879 Flintermann Sept. 11, 1934 1,972,880 Flintermann Sept. 11, 1934 2,278,870 Flagg Apr. 7, 1942 2,393,373 Hendrix Jan. 22, 1946 

